Fast-food consumers in Singapore: demographic profile, diet quality and weight status

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2014-08, Vol.17 (8), p.1805-1813
• Main Authors: Whitton, Clare, Ma, Yi, Bastian, Amber Carla, Fen Chan, Mei, Chew, Ling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Age groups; Aged; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Consumers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Diet Surveys; Education; Educational attainment; Educational Status; Energy Intake; Environment. Living conditions; Epidemiology; Ethnicity; Fast food; Fast Foods; Feeding Behavior; Female; Field study; Food; Humans; Income; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Miscellaneous; Nutrition; Obesity; Obesity, Abdominal - etiology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualifications; Research Papers; Singapore; Surveys and Questionnaires; Waist-Hip Ratio; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013001997

To determine the demographic profile of fast-food consumers among adult Singapore residents and ascertain whether fast-food consumption frequency is associated with diet quality and weight status. A nationally representative cross-sectional survey including an FFQ and anthropometric measures. Participants were grouped based on their fast-food consumption frequency as non-consumer, occasional consumer or regular consumer, with regular defined as at least once per week. Individuals living in the community in Singapore. Singapore residents (n 1627) aged 18-69 years of Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicity. Proportions of regular fast-food consumers were higher in younger age groups, higher income groups and middle education level groups. Mean daily energy intake was positively associated with fast-food consumption frequency (non-consumers 9636 kJ (2303 kcal); occasional consumers 11 159 kJ (2667 kcal); regular consumers 13 100 kJ (3131 kcal); P for trend < 0·001). Fast-food consumers were more likely to exceed the RDA for energy, fat and saturated fat, and less likely to meet wholegrain and fruit recommendations. Both regular consumers (OR = 1·24; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·51) and occasional consumers (OR = 1·52; 95 % CI 1·32, 1·77) were more likely to have a waist:hip ratio indicating abdominal obesity. Occasional consumers were more likely to have a BMI ≥ 23·0 kg/m2 (OR = 1·19; 95 % CI 1·04, 1·37), whereas regular consumers were less likely (OR = 0·76; 95 % CI 0·64, 0·91) to have an 'at-risk' BMI. Fast-food consumption is most prevalent in young adults, high income and middle education level groups. Frequent fast-food consumption in Singapore is associated with unfavourable dietary and nutrient profiles and abdominal obesity.